He put the kettle on, its red eye blinked open and stared blindly but menacingly.

‘Aren’t you a bit too early?’ Nagel asked fumbling in the pantry. ‘I feel fine. Fit as a fiddle. But I was starting to worry about Alyson. She’s been unwell.’

The apparition silently watched him rinse a small teapot, put in two teaspoons of tea leaves and pour in boiling water. A sudden wave of aroma welled out of the teapot. The good old Earl Grey.

‘Fascinating. I thought everyone is using tea bags these days. Isn’t it faster and easier?’ the ghostly visitor asked, having ignored Nagel’s question.

‘It sure is faster and easier. But does it taste like real tea? It certainly doesn’t. Not to me anyway. I suppose I’m old-fashioned. I believe that good things take time and that haste makes waste. But these days I’m outnumbered. These days everyone wants instant results. Instant coffee, instant lottery, instant communication, instant love... If it isn’t instant, it’s not worth the effort.’ Nagel put two teaspoonfuls of sugar into an empty cup, then added some milk. Waiting for the tea to brew, he stirred the milk slowly. Sugar didn’t want to dissolve in the cold liquid. The teaspoon clinked in the fine china cup.

‘I am very thankful that you are allowing me the time to enjoy a cup of tea,’ Nagel said. ‘Too bad you can’t join me,’ he added with a grin.

The white haze condensed slightly over the vacant bar stool, taking the shape of a sitting figure.

‘I’m simply curious. I could never understand why you did it. Why lose so much to gain so little?’

Nagel was silent. He poured the fresh tea into his cup and took a sip. Then another one. And one more. The hot liquid trickled into his stomach and the heat radiated all through his body. Nagel savoured the feeling, knowing that it was the last time ever he’d be able to feel this.